Device for cracking nuts.



H. 0. WHITE.

DEVICE FOR CRACKING NUTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.12, 1912.

1,049,183, Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

UNITED STATES PA'rENr ew -a.

HUBERT C. WHITE, 0F FULTONVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALIETQ FRANK S. PORTER, 0F JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

DEVICE FOR CRACKING NUTS Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Dec. 31,1912.

Application filed April 12, 1912. Serial No. 690,237.

- specification.

My invention relates to a device for crack inghard shell nuts and is more particularly designed as an improvement on my invention shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,004,611, dated October The object of the present invention is to improve the elficiency of the device referred to, to simplify its construction and opera tion, to reduce the number of parts, and to provide means for automatically interposing a shield adapted to protect the operator against injury from flying fragments of shell during the act of cracking the nut,- the construction being such that the shield is also automatically raised when the device is in' position to receive the succeeding nut to be cracked.

A further object of the invention is to increase the leverage afi'orded by the device over that in the patent referred to, while at the same time reducing the relative size and number of parts.

Other advantages and improvements will hereafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification:Figure l is a perspective view of the device shown in position to receive the nut, with parts broken away that it may be more conveniently placed. upon the sheet. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section showing the parts in the position indicated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar'longitudinal vertical section with the device in the posit-ion occupied when about to crack the'nut. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a detail showing one of the side frames provided with a lug to limit the further downward movement of the lever. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the rock shaft. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the follower or sliding member. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the same.

Referring to the letters of reference placed upon the drawings indicating the several parts: A denotes a base board provided with an opening A through which the cracked nuts may fall into a receptacle placed beneath to receive them.

'B and B are the side members of the frame connected together at one end by the cross member B adapted to receive and support an adjustable thumb-screw C, having a concave end C, to receive the end of the nut to be cracked.

D is a rock shaft journaled in the side walls B and B.

E is an operating lever secured to the web portion D of the rock shaft by bolts 6 and e.

cl isa lug on the opposite end of the rock shaft which serves to prevent the side walls B and B from spreading when the parts are assembled. Spaced from the lug d and 'on the inside of the member B is a beaded or rib portion 03. (Z2 is a like beaded portion on the rock shaft adjacent to the inner face of the opposite side wall. These ribs coacting with the side walls B and B prevent lateral movement of the rock shaft when the parts are assembled.

is a V-shaped opening in the frame through which the web portion D of the rock shaft may pass whenassembling the parts.

F is a sliding member having lugs f adapted to project into the slotted way b of the side members which serve to guide the sliding member while reciprocating between the frames B and B.

F is an arm integral with the sliding member pivoted between the crank arms (i of therock shaft DI As indicated-in Figs. 2 and 3, the rock shaft is recessed at (Z to receivethe end of the arm F to provide for a relatively great leverage while permitting the sliding memher to assume a slightly inclined posit-ion, as indicated in Fig. 2, to admit of the more convenient entry of the nut to be cracked between it and the end of the adjustable thumb-screw C.

G is a lug projecting from the side frame B against which the nut ofthe bolt 6 abuts to limit the further downward movement of the lever, thus protecting the hand of the operatorfrom injury through violent accidental contact with the base.

H is a hinged cover pivoted at hto the arm F of the sliding member. a

h is a projecting portion of the cover extending beyond its pivot adapted to be acted upon by the cam-shaped face D of the rock shaft whereby the cover is raised by a tilting movement when the lever is thrown to the position indicated in Fig. 2;-the cover closing by gravity over the end of the nut to be cracked upon being released from the action of the cam when the parts are in the position indicated in Fig. 3.

7 is a depression in the sliding member F to receive the end of the nut to be cracked.

Having indicated the several parts by reference letters, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood.

To crack a nut, the operating lever E is thrown to the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, this action raises the cover and forces the sliding member away from the adjustable thumb-screw to the limit of its movement,'the sliding member being slightly inclined to provide for the ready insertion of the nut between it and the end of the adjustable thumb-screw. It will be obvious that the inclination given ,to the sliding member is in a measure due to forming the rock shaftv with a recess or cut away portion 03 into which the arm F may project when the parts are in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Attention is called to the further advantage obtained by this con struct-ion in that the relative leverage is thereby increased.

The thumb-screw being approximately asjusted to receive the nut to be fractured, the latter is placed in position and the lever it] operated, gripping the nut between the sliding member and the thumb-screw. The cover H being released from its elevated position through the movement of the cam, closes by gravity over the nut to be cracked as indicated in Fig. 3, to shield the operator from the flying fragments. Upon the nut being cracked through a further movement of the lever, the kernel and fractured portions of the shell fall through the opening A in the base board into a receptacle (not shown) placed beneath the base for their reception.

' It will be seen upon referring to Fig. 2 that when the device is in an open position the end of the sliding member is inclined to provide for the ready insertion of the nut between it and the thumb-screw, as before explained ;and 'on referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the end wall of the sliding member assumes a vertical position as it approaches the adjustable thumb-screw,

whereby the nut to be cracked is firmly held between it and the thumb-screw in such manner as to afford an equal crushing pressure upon the ends of the nut, thus insuring the shell being fractured so as to release the kernel without injuring the latter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is v 1. In a device of the character described, a frame slotted to receive a sliding element supported therein, a rock shaft journaled in the frame, a lever for operating the rock shaft, the slidable element provided with a rearwardly projecting arm pivoted to the rock shaft, an adjustable abutment between which and the sliding element the nut to be fractured is placed, a tilting cover bridgmg the space between the sliding element and the abutment, and means whereby the cover is automatically tilted and raised to admit of the nut being placed between the sliding element and the abutment upon operating the lever in one direction, thecover being released from its elevated position that it may descend to confine the fragments of the fractured shell upon operating the lever in the opposite direction.

2. In a device of the character described, a frame having ways adapted to guide a sliding element, a rock shaft journaled in the frame, means for operating the rock shaft, the slidable element provided with a projecting arm pivoted to the rock shaft, an

adjustable abutment between which and the:

sliding element the nut to be fractured is placed, a tilting cover bridging the space between the sliding element and abutment and pivoted to the sliding element, and means consisting of a camshaped face carried by said rock shaft adapted to tilt said cover when the rock shaft is operated in one direction and to release the cover whereby it may close and bridge the space between the sliding element and abutment upon operating the rock shaft in the opposite direction.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of side frames provided with ways to receive and guide a sliding element supported therein, an adjustable abutment, the slidable element adapted to reciprocate toward and away from the adjustable abutment, said slidable element provided with a projecting arm, a rock shaft journaled in the side frames having a transverse recess into which the arm of the sliding element is adapted to project, said rock shaft provided with an arm pivoted to the projecting arm of the sliding element to actuate the latter, and means for operating the rock shaft.

4. In a' device of the character described, a frame provided with ways to support and guide a slidable element, an adjustable abutment supported in said frame, the slidable element having a rearwardly extending arm integral therewith, a rock shaft journaledin the frame having an arm to which the arm of the slidable element is pivotedand a transverse recess to receive the end of the arm when the rock shaft is operated in one try of the nut to be fractured between the slidable elementand the abutment, a tilting cover pivoted to the slidable element, and a cam portion carried by the rock shaft adapted to raise the cover when the rock shaft is actuated in one direction, releasing it when operated in the opposite direction.

5. In a device of the character described, a frame provided with ways to receive and guide a slidable element, the slidable element having a projecting arm integral therewith, a rock shaft journaled in the frame having an arm to which the arm of the slidable element is pivoted, said rock shaft also provided with a transverse recess to receive the arm of the slidable ele ment when the rock shaft is actuated in one direction, means for operating the rock shaft, an adjustable abutment supported by the frame, and a tilting cover pivoted to the arm of the slidable element and means carried by the rock shaft to automatically raise the cover when the rock shaft is o-p-.

erated in one direction, said cover bein adapted to close when the rock shaft is operated in the opposite. direction.

6. In a device of the character described, a frame adapted to support and guide a slidable element, an adjustable abutment supported in the frame, the slidable element, having a rearwardly extendingarm, a rock shaft journaled in the frame having an arm to which the slidable element is pivoted, said rock shaft adapted to admit of the arm of the slidable element being on the same plane with the journals of the rock shaft when the latter is operated in one direction, and a lever to actuate the rock shaft.

7. In a device of the character described, a frame adapted to support and guide aslidable element, an adjustable abutment supported in the frame, the slidable element having a rearwardly extending arm, a rock shaft-journaled in the frame having an arm to which the slidable element is pivoted, said rock shaft adapted to admit of the arm of the slidable element being onthe same plane with the journals of the rock shaft when the latter is operated in one direction, a lever to actuate the rock shaft, and a cover hinged to the arm of the slidable element adapted to be raised by the rock shaft when the latter is operated in one direction and closed when operated in the opposite direction.

8. In 3. (18VICG of the character described,

same plane with the journals of the rock .shaft when the latter is operated in one direction, and a lever to actuate the rock shaft, said frame provided with a projecting portion adapted to limit the travel of the lever in one direction.

9-. In a device of the class described, a frame, an abutment carried by the frame, a sliding element supported by the frame, and means for first movingthe sliding element rectilinearly and for tilting the latter upon the limit of its rectilinear movement in one direction.

10. In a device of the character described, a frame, an abutment carried by the frame, a sliding member carried by the frame, means for imparting a rectilinear reciprocatory movement to the sliding member, and means for tilting the sliding member upon the limit of its rectilinear movement in one direction.

11. In a device of the class described, a frame, an abutment carried by the frame, a sliding element supported by the frame, means'including a'rock shaft for imparting a rectilinear reciprocatory movement tothe sliding member, and means on the rock shaft for permitting a tilting movement of the sliding member at the limit of the movement of the latter in one direction.

12. In a device of the class described, aframe, an abutment carried by the frame, a sliding element supported by the frame, a rock shaft journaled in the frame, an arm secured to the sliding element,- means connecting the rock shaft with the arm of the sliding member, a recess in the rock shaft to receive the end of the arm of the sliding member when the rock shaft is turned in one direction whereby the sliding member is tilted, and means for oscillating the rock shaft.

13. In a device of the class described, a frame, an abutment carried by the frame, a sliding member supported by the frame, a rock shaft journaled in the frame, a cover pivotally mounted within the frame, and means on the rock shaft for raising the cover. r 1M. In a device of the character described, a frame, an abutment, a sliding element supported by the frame, a rock shaft mounted in the frame, means connecting the sliding element with the rock shaft, a cover pivotally mounted on the sliding element, and means carriedaby the rock shaft for elevating the cover.

15. In a device of the character described, as to eleva te the cover on the retraction of an abutment, a sliding element suppo 'bed 1n the sliding element, 10 the frame, a rock shaft mounted 1n the In testimony whereof, I sign this specififrame, means connecting the slidin element cation in the presence of two witnesses.

with the rock shaft, a cover pivotal ymount- HUBERT 0. WHITE. ed on the sliding element, means carried Witnesses: by the rock shaft to elevate the cover, said WALTER B. CROss,

means being so positioned on the rock shaft W. B. Foomr. 

